Bangkok: Kham, Deputy Government Spokesperson, reported significant financial losses due to online scams between January 6-12, 2025, with five cases resulting in damages totaling 20 million baht. He urged the public to adhere to the "4 no's": "Don't click on links, don't believe, don't rush, and don't transfer money."
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Karom Polpornklang, Deputy Government Spokesperson, detailed the incidents reported by the Anti Online Scam Operation Center (AOC 1441). In the first case, a victim was deceived into transferring money for a fraudulent work-from-home scheme, losing 10,693,723 baht. The victim was contacted via Facebook to like a page for compensation and later persuaded through Line to transfer money for higher returns, only to realize it was a scam.
The second case involved a fraudulent investment scheme via a computer system, amounting to 3,247,521 baht in losses. The victim responded to a Facebook ad about stock trading, joined a Line group, and installed an application. Initial withdrawals were successful, but further attempts were blocked under false pretenses, leading to financial loss.
In the third case, another investment scam through a computer system resulted in 3,161,275 baht in damages. A similar pattern of Facebook advertisements and Line communications led the victim to transfer money, which could not be retrieved despite additional investments, indicating a scam.
The fourth case involved telephone threats purportedly from a police officer, coercing the victim into transferring 1,700,000 baht. The scammer falsely accused the victim of illegal activities and demanded money for an investigation, which was never refunded.
The fifth case saw a victim deceived into transferring 1,399,857 baht under the guise of receiving compensation for a damaged package. The scam, initiated through a phone call and completed with a QR code scan, resulted in unauthorized money transfers.
Mr. Karam emphasized ongoing government efforts to combat such scams and reminded the public to stay vigilant. He stressed the importance of the "4 no's" to prevent falling victim to online fraud and urged individuals to exercise caution in online transactions.